Device with a loudspeaker and an ear piece cover

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to casings ( 2 ) for portable communication devices ( 1 ). The casing ( 2 ) is reusable with engines having different processing capabilities.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates devices such as portable communication devices andin particular to the earpiece region for such devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Items of technical equipment are generally bought for theirfunctionality. They are quickly superseded and replaced when a faster,cheaper to operate, smaller, or higher specification alternative isreleased onto the market, the previous model being discarded. The valueof the product to its user is in what it can achieve, and perhaps to anextent the image that attaches to the owner of such an item. As fashionis constantly changing so is the image promoted by owning an individualitem particularly in a fast moving technical area. What may have beenthe height of fashion can swiftly become out moded.

In fast moving technical areas changes are prompted by, amongst otherthings, the requirement to make the product smaller, cheaper, cheaper touse, have greater functionality, make use of emerging technologies ormove with the latest tastes in design.

Generally when a radically new technical product is brought onto themarket, for an initial period the product is elite and expensive.Consequently only limited numbers are produced. In the early years,because of the inherent rarity and the cost of components, there is apropensity to repair as much as possible. Despite the economicrequirement for repair, as soon as a better product is launched, theprevious item is soon obsolete and abandoned. The drive for innovationis the challenge of technical advancement and reduction of costs. Thispattern has been followed with many items including the first colourtelevisions, and the first mobile phones.

In other products such as personal computers upgrading is a possibility,but these upgrades are possible only within carefully predefined limits.The casings being retained as a matter of convenience, it being theretention of the maximum amount of the existing technological hardwarethat drives the changes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there isprovided a device including a casing, a loudspeaker, a user interfaceincluding at least one user input member, and an element that isdesigned to overlie the loudspeaker of the device, the element havingapertures for allowing the egress of an audio signal from theloudspeaker, said apertures being designed for placing against a user'sear, wherein the element is formed of ceramic.

Ceramic is a suitable material because it is strong, durable and isresistant o scratching. Ceramic also provides a comfortable surface to auser's ear.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there isprovided a device including a casing, a loudspeaker, a user interfaceincluding at least one user input member, and an element that isdesigned to overlie the loudspeaker of the device, the element havingapertures for allowing the egress of an audio signal from theloudspeaker, said apertures being designed for placing against a user'sear, wherein the element is fixed directly to the loudspeaker or to amount of the loudspeaker.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there isprovided a device including a casing, a loudspeaker, a user interfaceincluding at least one user input member, and an element that isdesigned to overlie the loudspeaker of the device, the element havingapertures for allowing the egress of an audio signal from theloudspeaker, said apertures being designed for placing against a user'sear, wherein the device has a face that includes both the element andthe user interface and the element protrudes out of the face to agreater extent than the user interface protrudes out of the face.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there isprovided a device including a casing, a loudspeaker, a user interfaceincluding at least one user input member, and an element that isdesigned to overlie the loudspeaker of the device, the element havingapertures for allowing the egress of an audio signal from theloudspeaker, said apertures being designed for placing against a user'sear, wherein the element overlays a portion of a display region of thedevice.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there isprovided a device including a casing, a loudspeaker, a user interfaceincluding at least one user input member, and an element that isdesigned to overlie the loudspeaker of the device, the element havingapertures for allowing the egress of an audio signal from theloudspeaker, said apertures being designed for placing against a user'sear, wherein at least part of the casing is made from a preciousmaterial and the element is made from a material that is inherentlywarmer to the touch than the precious material.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there isprovided a casing for a portable communications device, the casingincluding an element that is designed to overlie the loudspeaker of thedevice, the element having apertures for allowing the egress of an audiosignal from a loudspeaker of the device, said apertures being designedfor placing against a user's ear, wherein the element is formed ofceramic

The element may be fixed to a casing member that is designed to overliethe loudspeaker of the device, said casing member having aperturescorresponding to the apertures in the element. The casing may have aface that includes both the element and the user interface and theelement protrudes out of the face to a greater extent than the userinterface protrudes out of the face.

The casing may additionally or alternatively have any of the followingfeatures: a face that includes both the element and the user interface,the element protruding out of the face to a greater extent than the userinterface protrudes out of the face; the element overlying a portion ofa display region of the device; the element being formed of a materialthat is inherently warmer to the touch than the casing; at least part ofthe casing being made from a precious material and the element beingmade from a material that is inherently warmer to the touch than theprecious material; the element being formed of a material that isscratch-resistant; the element being fixed directly to the loudspeakeror to a mount of the loudspeaker; the element being fixed to a casingelement that is designed to overlie the loudspeaker of the device.

The element may be formed of ceramic, leather, wood glass or metal.Preferably a material is chosen that provides a comfortable feel againsta user's ear. The device may have a face that includes both the elementand the user interface with the element protruding out of the face to agreater extent than the user interface protrudes out of the face. Thisallows the earpiece element to provide some protection to the userinterface.

The element may overlay a portion of a display region of the device. Thepart of the element overlying the portion of the display may beV-shaped, so providing two edges along which icons may be displayed onthe display. Examples of icons are an icon indicating the powerremaining in a battery associated with the device, the strength of asignal received by a device, the proportion of memory associated withthe device that is free/used etc.

Preferably the element is formed of a material that isscratch-resistant.

The element may be fixed to a casing element that is designed to overliethe loudspeaker of the device. Alternatively the element may be fixeddirectly to the loudspeaker or to a mount of the loudspeaker, forinstance by adhesive.

The device may be any device that incorporates an ear piece and isparticularly suitable for use on a portable communications device suchas a telephone.

The casing may be a conventional one part casing or a clam shell, orother two or more part arrangement, where the user input elements orkeys may be located on a different face to a display. In such two partarrangements generally respective casing portions are fixed such thatone is movable relative to the other. The movement may be rotational orlateral.

When a casing is to be reusable it can be made from more valuablematerials as these will not be redundant and cast aside when the nextbest technology comes along. A vast range of materials become availablefor customisation of elements of the device in fact there are virtuallyno bounds. Embodiments of the invention may use precious and semiprecious materials including gem stones, other jewels and minerals,metals including those ranging from gold, silver, and platinum throughto alloys such as steel. Materials such as ceramics in their variousforms are also available for use in embodiments of the invention, thebrittle nature of these materials, being able to be accommodated by thedesign of some embodiments. In addition, materials not generallyconsidered in the context of technological devices, such as skins,leather being a particular example and wood and similar materials canalso be utilised in embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail withreference to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 shows front, rear, sides and top views of a communication deviceaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a communication device suitablefor embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the face of a communication device of oneembodiment of the invention without keys;

FIG. 4 is a view of one layer of a light guide; and

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through the communication device.

Embodiments of the invention will be described in greater detail belowwith exemplary materials being given for some specific or individualelements of the device. Where a material or veneer is discussed inrelation to an element, the particular character of the elementdescribed is one of many or several that may be provided as options to aparty commissioning a personalised device in accordance with theinvention. In addition the exact material or surface decoration of theelement could be individually commissioned.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 is a communication device 1 with aprecious retainable casing 2. The casing 2 of the device may becustomisable to individual taste with precious materials. To enableindividual devices to be created, the number of external parts that thecasing is formed from may be relatively large in contrast to existingcommunication devices.

The casing 2 has an optically permeable front face 3 providing aseamless transition from a display region 4 to an input region 5 thatincludes a key array 6. The key array 6 includes a first group ofalphanumeric keys 7, for entering telephone numbers, writing textmessages (SMS), writing names (associated with phone numbers), etc. Eachof the twelve alphanumeric keys 7 is provided with a figure “0-9” or asign “#” or “*”, respectively. In an alpha mode each key is associatedwith a number of letters and special signs used in text editing. The keyarray 6 additionally comprises two soft keys 8, 9, two call handlingkeys 10, 11, two scroll keys 12, and an on/off key 13.

The functionality of the soft keys 8, 9 may depend on the state of thecommunication device and position within the menu accessed using thescroll keys 12. The current functionality of the soft keys 8, 9 can beshown in separate fields in the display region 4 just above therespective keys 8, 9.

The two call handling keys 10, 11 are used for establishing a call or aconference call, terminating a call or rejecting an incoming call.

The two direction keys or scroll keys 12, in the handset illustrated,are placed centrally on the front surface of the communication devicebetween the display region 4 and the group of alphanumeric keys 7 toperform a scrolling function.

The seamless face 3 is formed from an optically seamless light guideproviding light to illuminate the display region 4 and key legends 15associated with individual keys of the key array 6.

The front face 3 is overlaid with a pillow 16 providing apertures 17 tochannel sound from a loud speaker 18 and providing an appropriate feelfor an element of the device that will be located close to the user'sear. The pillow 16 is an element that may also be referred to as anearpiece element or cover. The front face 3 is surrounded by a bezel 19that can be made from a precious metal. This acts to protect the edgesof the light guide 3 and can help in some embodiments in securing theelements of the casing 2 together.

The keys of the key array in this particular embodiment are arranged toprovide particular sensory guidance to the user. Aspects of the designalso allow the face 3 to be made from a wide range of materialsincluding those that are brittle and so need to be carefully handled andprotected from shattering.

The casing 2 is formed from the front face 3 surrounded by the bezel 19,a side frame 20 and a back cover 21. The interface between the sideframe 20 and the bezel 19 and the side frame 20 and the rear cover 21are shielded by rails 22, 23 in this embodiment. The rails 22, 23 hideraw edges from view and exposure to ensure that the device 1 is bothlong lasting and elegant. The construction of the casing 2 enables thecasing 2 to be opened with ease to update the engine 24 inside whendesired. The casing 2 is also designed to allow the device toaccommodate different sized and shaped engines 24, which may benecessary through its life.

Other elements of the design will be discussed in greater detail withreference to the later drawings. By way of introduction, the device willbe briefly discussed with reference to its functional elements.

The communication device 1 includes the key array 6, a display 25, anantenna 26, an ear piece speaker 18, a polyphonic speaker 27, and amicrophone 28. The communication device 1 is adapted for communicationvia a wireless telecommunication network, e.g. a wireless network.However, the communication device could also have been designed for acordless network. FIG. 3 shows schematically and functionally elementsof the communication device 1. The microphone 28 records the user'sspeech, and the analogue signals formed thereby are A/D converted by anA/D converter before the speech is encoded in an audio part 29. Theencoded speech signal is transferred to processor 30. The processor 30may support software in the phone. The processor 30 also forms theinterface to peripheral units of the apparatus. These may include aRandom Access Memory (RAM) 31 and a Flash Read Only Memory (ROM) 32, aSIM card 33, the display 25, and the key array 6, and perhaps a browserapplication 34, and a location module 35.

The browser application 34 can be used to request and receiveinformation from the Internet. The location module 35 enables theterminal 1 to determine its current position.

The processor 30 communicates with a transceiver 36, e.g. a circuit,which is adapted to send and receive messages in a telecommunicationnetwork. The telecommunications network may be a GSM or W-CDMA network,but the invention may also be applied in connection with any othernetwork, including but not limited to other kinds of wireless networksand various forms of cordless phone systems or in dual band phonesaccessing sets of these systems or networks. The audio part 29 decodesthe speech signal, which is then transferred from the processor 30 tothe earpiece 18 via a D/A converter.

The display 25 may form a permanent part of the casing or, to increasethe potential for upgrading the engine throughout the life of thecasing, it may be a module that can be replaced, for example, to accountfor the inevitable improvements in graphics that may occur.

As discussed above, the front face 3 is optically permeable and acts asa light guide. The seamless light guide, passing light over the displayregion 4 as well as providing light to illuminate the key legends 15reduces the number of lighting elements required to illuminate thedevice and provides a seamless transition from one area of the front ofthe device to another. By using this technique for delivering light andalso allowing the light guide 3 to form the front surface of the device1 as in the embodiment disclosed, the device is visually striking, therebeing no visible transition from the display region 4 to the inputregion 5 where the key array 6 is located.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 has a light permeable front face 3that can be formed from sapphire or a similar precious stone. As soon asa mineral such as sapphire is used in place of other more flexible lightpermeable materials such as plastics, additional problems are introducedassociated with the character of the material. In designing a durabledevice having, for example, a brittle material for a front piece 3 thereare many difficulties. In one manifestation of the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, the front face 3 is an opticallyseamless composite layer. As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 3, aplastics layer 37 that may be formed from Perspex™ or other transparentand/or translucent materials runs the entire length of the front face 3.There is a cut-out 38 for accommodating the ear piece speaker 18 that isoptimised for use close to the ear. There is another cut-outaccommodating a light pipe diffuser 39. This is located under the pillow16 and extends across the width of the device 1. By placing the lightpipe 39 under the pillow 16, a bright area on the front face is avoidedand the light visible in the light guide will be diffused. LEDs 40, 41are located at each side of the device at each end of the pipe 39. Lightfrom the LEDs 40, 41 is channelled through the pipe 39 and diffused. Thelight pipe 39 is coated with reflective material so that light ischannelled through the surface 42 that runs along the top of the LCDdisplay 25. The diffused light is accordingly channelled into and alongthe major axis of the light guide to provide substantially uniformlighting for the LCD 25.

In this way light is pumped into the light guide 3 along the major axisfrom above the LCD 25. The light from the light pipe 39 illuminates thedisplay region 4 and provides lighting for the input region 5.Additional LEDs 67 or other lighting elements may be positioned alongthe edges of the Perspex™ layer or sheet 37 in the input region 5 tofurther illuminate the legends 15 for the keys of the array 6.

The LCD 25 itself is bonded to the rear surface of the Perspex™ sheet 37with an energy absorbing adhesive sheet. Using this technique andensuring that there are no air gaps between the front of the LCD 25 andthe Perspex™ sheet 37, provides a robust solution for mounting the LCD25. The surface of the LCD 25 that is delicate and generally needs aprotective layer distanced from it is protected by the Perspex™ layer 37adhered to one of its faces. The drivers 44 for the LCD 25 can be seenin FIG. 5.

In the embodiment illustrated the Perspex™ layer 37 includes apertures48 for locating individual keys and allowing the key shafts 49 to travelto make contact with a printed circuit board 50 located within thecasing 2 to register user input. An independently inventive key layout,suitable for use with the general concept discussed will be described ingreater detail below. As the key layout is likely to be one of the mostenduring elements of the design, it has been designed with futurerequirements for the casing in mind. The skilled man will be aware thatmodifications to the key arrangement can be made while still providingthe flexibility to accommodate future engine requirements. For example,a joystick, or similar rotational device or multi-directional key couldbe utilised for input as could other input mechanisms traditionally usedon laptop computers.

As can be seen most clearly from FIG. 4, the second layer of thecomposite light guide 51 may be made in a number of sections 52-58. Thisis to allow for the choice of brittle materials to be used for thesecond layer 51. Sapphire has properties including its scratchresistance and optical clarity that make it suitable for use in thiscontext although the material of this element is selectable and aceramic material could be utilised in this arrangement. Other suitablematerials are glass and other minerals and precious and semi preciousstones. When a transparent material such as sapphire is used, however,the light guide provides an external surface to the device. Arrangementsfor the second layer similar to those disclosed in concept in theillustrated embodiment are not necessary when the materials are notbrittle. Alternative arrangements will, however, be apparent to theskilled man for accommodating brittle materials in this context.

As mentioned above sapphire is brittle. When considering how tointroduce such a material into a casing 2 that is to be long lasting anddurable, problems arise. This is particularly the case when the device 1will inevitably be subjected to knocks and is likely to be dropped manytimes in its long existence. In the embodiment described, the sapphireis formed in individual sections 52-58. Each of the pieces is adhered tothe Perspex™ layer 37 using a UV curing adhesive based on hybrid acrylictechnology. Alternatively the sections 52-58 may be adhered to a carrierto absorb any shock. The carrier is then adhered to the substrate 37. Inorder to increase the durability of the composite light guide 3 andstrengthen it against damage, the sections 52-58 are adhered to the moreflexible Perspex™ layer 37 leaving gaps 59 extending across the entirewidth. These gaps 59 act as hinges to allow the composite layer 3 to berelatively flexible along its major axis. In the embodiment illustrated,the layout of the key array 6 has been designed with this in mind. Thealpha numeric keys 7 are arranged in groups of three extending acrossthe whole width of the second layer of the composite 51. The functionkeys or soft key 8, 9 are also arranged in two groups of three. The softkeys 8, 9 and the top scroll key 12 a follows the line of the alphanumeric keys 7. The call handling keys 10, 11 and the bottom scroll key12 b which is displaced from the line of the others defines the loweredge of one of the elements 57 and the upper edge of another of theelements 56. This makes the second row of keys 10, 11, 12 b distinctivewhilst still avoiding problems in manufacture of the elements 52-58.

Although the embodiment described is designed with a brittle materialsuch as sapphire in mind, the resultant arrangement could be formed fromany number of other materials including plastics that provide therequired optical characteristics. Similarly different key arrangementscould be used without departing from individually inventive conceptsthat are disclosed.

When using a brittle material for a front face light guide 3 problemsare also encountered when connecting the front face 3 to the rest of thecasing elements. In the illustrated embodiment the edges of the brittleelements 52-58 are protected by the bezel 19 that sits around the wholeof the face. The bezel 19, in this embodiment, is formed from a bezelsupport 60 overlaid with a 0.5 mm thick metal sheet, the bezel cover 61.The metal sheet 61 is bonded to the bezel support 60, that may be formedfrom plastic, with an adhesive such as a two part epoxy adhesive or atwo part acrylic adhesive. As the metal sheet 61 is relatively thin thiskeeps the weight of the casing 2 down and also allows relativelyprecious metals such as titanium or gold to be used at relatively lowercost. The bezel 19 could, however, be a single part and/or be formedfrom a single material for example titanium.

The transparent face 3 in this particular embodiment is securely held inplace by a robust mechanism. The Perspex™ layer 37 to which the elements52-58 are bonded extends beyond the area covered by the elements toprovide a lip or edge 62 around the whole of the composite light guide3. This edge 62 is used to secure the front face 3 in position as it istucked under the bezel 19 that defines the perimeter of the front faceand squeezed between the bezel 19 and the side frame 20.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the bezel 19 is punctuated with front faceprotectors 63 whose function will be described in more detail later.These front face protectors 63, in this particular embodiment play arole in holding the casing elements together.

The front face protectors 63 have a tip part 64 that extends over thebezel 19 and a shaft 65-that passes through the bezel 19 and into theplastic side frame 20. The shaft 65 may be tightened onto the frame 20using a nut 95. In this case the nut stops the front face protectorsfrom falling out of the device. In one embodiment the shafts 65 arescrewed into the tips 64 at one end and into the side frame element 20at the other although other manners of connection could be employed. Theshaft 65 and tip 64 could also be one piece rather than two. The bezel19 and the Perspex™ layer 37 of the transparent face 2 are captured bythe front face protector 63 and side frame element 20 as can be seen inFIG. 9 b. The front face protectors 63 accordingly grip the transparentface 3 securely between the side frame 20 and the bezel 19. The frontface protectors 63 are only located next to the key array 6. In order tosecure the transparent face 3 around its perimeter additional screws 66are added to draw the bezel 19 towards the side frame 20 and squeeze thetransparent face 3 in place. In one embodiment, the screws 66 threadthrough the side frame 20 and tap into the bezel support 60. Once thebezel support 60 is secured to the side frame 20 the outer shell 61 ofthe bezel 19 can be adhered to the support 60 to hide the tapped screwends 66.

As can be seen in the figures, although the more flexible transparentsubstrate 37 is overlaid by the bezel 19 secured in position by thefront face protectors 63 and other connectors, the sapphire ismaintained spaced from the bezel 19 so that it is protected fromchipping or other damage as a result of contact. The edges of thesapphire elements do not protrude above the edge of the bezel 19 toprovide further protection for the more vulnerable edges. In thearrangement described, the transparent face 3 is gripped in positionbetween the bezel 19 and the side frame 20. The more flexible substrate37 could, however receive screws or other fasteners to located itrelative to the other frame members without damaging the more brittlesapphire layer. The choice of material for the bezel is one open toselection. Precious metals including gold, platinum, silver, steelamongst others would be suitable. The same applies to the material ofthe front face protectors. Both these elements and others that theskilled man will realise are suitable could be encrusted with preciousor semi precious stones such as sapphires, rubies, emeralds and diamondsamongst others. Other crystals or minerals or other materials andveneers could also be utilised.

To reduce the ingress of dirt or fluids a sealant 69 is located betweenthe bezel 19 and the transparent face 3. One way in which this can beintroduced is to paint a seal on the underside of the bezel 19 whichwhen dry is compressed between the transparent light guide 3 and thebezel 19 when the bezel 19 and the side frame 20 are pulled together.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, 2 or 6, a first rail 22 is located in theinterface between the side frame element 20 and the front face 3. Therail 22 hides the discontinuity between the parts from sight andprotects vulnerable edges to enhance the durability of the device 1. Therail 22 may be a stamped metal piece ‘T’ shaped in section extendingaround the perimeter of the side frame 20. The stem of the ‘T’ 68 istrapped between the side frame member 20 and the bezel 19 as these twopieces are drawn together on assembly. The stem of the T has apertures70 that sit over corresponding projections 71 on the side frame 20member to prevent it from being withdrawn from between the two partswhen in position. The top of the T acts as a carrier plate to which anadditional extruded piece 72 is soldered or otherwise adhered to providea seamless finish. The stem could instead be formed from a plasticsmaterial.

The side frame member 20 in this particular embodiment is a plasticsupport 73 with an exterior cover 74. The cover 74 may again be a metalsheet formed, for example, from a precious metal or perhaps a woodveneer or another layer such as leather or other skin. The bonding agentmost suitable for adhering the layer to the plastic frame member 73 willdiffer depending upon the materials that need to be adhered. For metalto plastic a suitable adhesive is a 2 part epoxy resin or 2 part acrylicadhesive. For metal to metal the adhesive would be a reactivepolyurethane film or a two part epoxy resin. Similarly the back cover 21in this embodiment may have a plastic frame and be covered with forexample a leather, wood or perhaps metal veneer. With the flexibleveneer materials such as leather, it is preferable for the material tobe taut on the frame. This is achieved during the veneering processusing conventional techniques.

The transparent face 3 provides a seamless transition between thedisplay 4 and the input regions 5. In the display region 4, the LCD 25is located behind the transparent face 3 and in the input region 5 thekey mechanism 75 lies behind it. In one embodiment described, the keymechanism 75 can be seen through the front face 3. However, in otherembodiments the inner surface 76 of the Perspex™ substrate 37 may becoated with an opaque material to prevent the inside of the device beingseen. Alternative methods of obscuring the inner workings of the devicefrom view such as introducing additional opaque layers or obscuring theview in other ways will be apparent to the skilled man.

For embodiments where, for example, the key operating mechanism 75 canbe viewed through the front face 3, it may be desirable to obscure thePCB 50 from view.

The constructed casing 2 provides a housing for the printed circuitboard 50 holding the engine components 24, and a battery 79. When thedevice 1 is a radio telephone, the casing 2 may also provide a SIM cardholder 80 to accommodate a SIM card 81. For operation under some radioprotocols this will clearly not be necessary.

Returning to the front of the device, located above the display region 4is the pillow 16 so named because it is designed for the user to resthis or her ear against when making a telephone call. The pillow 16overlays the ear piece 18 of the device. As described previously thereis a cut-out 38 in the Perspex™ substrate 37 of the light guide 3 toaccommodate the ear piece 18. The pillow 16, in the illustratedembodiment, is adhered to the Perspex™ substrate 37 covering the earpiece 18. The pillow 16 provides suitable apertures 17 to channel soundto the user. The characteristics of pillow 16 both in terms of thematerial and surface decoration may be selectable by a commissioningparty.

The Perspex™ and sapphire light guide 3 is relatively cold to the touch,the material of the pillow 16 can be chosen to be a material that isinherently warmer to the touch and less prone to marking than atransparent shiny surface. Materials that are thought to be particularlysuitable are ceramic or wood and leather veneers. The shape of thepillow 16 obscures part of the LCD 25, providing opposing triangularsections 82, 83 that are used to indicate battery capacity and signalstrength respectively.

To complete the structure, the casing 2 has a rear cover 21 and internalcompartments 84, 85 suitable for retaining the engine 24, the battery 79and in this embodiment a SIM card 81. The device illustrated, in commonwith many other radio telephones, advantageously allows access to thebattery compartment 85 as the battery 79 may periodically needreplacement. In order for the engine 24 to be protected during thisactivity, the battery 79 is retained in a compartment providingconnectors to the engine 24. Along side the battery compartment 85 inthis embodiment is the SIM card holder 80. Under protocols where a SIMcard 81 is used to hold subscription information, the user may wish toremove the SIM card 81. For this reason it is convenient for the backcover 21 to be removable to expose both the battery 79 and the SIM card81. The battery compartment 85 and SIM card holder 80 are provided by aninternal casing element 87 that is secured to the side frame 20. Thismay be formed from plastic or one of many other suitable materials.

In one embodiment the compartments are formed from stamped metal sheet.Titanium and aluminium are two from the numerous suitable materials.

The casing 2 is completed by assembling the back cover 21 to the sideframe 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the back cover 21 is formedfrom three pieces 96, 97, 98. A first piece 96 overlays the antennalocation. As the first piece 96 also covers the antenna its dielectricconstant is relevant.

In a device of this type where the casing 2 is to survive generations ofengines 24, the materials from which is formed are important. Theyshould be hard wearing and durable, retaining their attributes for yearslonger than is currently required. For this reason ceramics have beenconsidered as an option for the back cover 21 for some embodiments ofthe invention. Other materials already discussed such as metals orprecious metals or veneers would also be possible. With ceramics,however, despite having many desirable characteristics, for locationsnear an antenna relevant for devices containing such an element, thedielectric constant of the material interferes with the desiredtransmission pattern.

To provide many of their desirable characteristics without thedielectric constant becoming too high, the rear cover piece 96 can beformed from a material with a lower dielectric constant with a suitabledepth of layer deposited on it. This technique and suggested materialscould be used for other elements of the casing.

The rear casing element 96 covering the antenna is hooked or chipped tothe side frame element 20 and in the process captures the second rail 23similar in construction to the first rail 22 between the side frame 20and the back cover 21. Again the rail 23 is provided with apertures 70that are positioned over corresponding projections 71 on the side frame20 to more securely hold the rail 23 in position when the back cover 21is attached.

A second rear casing element 97 covers the battery compartment 85 andthe SIM card holder 80. This element is releasably secured to the othercasing elements using screws 99 to allow relatively easy access to theSIM card 81 and battery 79. In a preferred embodiment a quarter turn ofa screw 100 releases the cover element 97 to allow it to be removed. Thesame action can disconnect the battery 79 to allow the SIM card 81 to beremoved.

The second rear casing element 97 is attached to the side frame 20 in asimilar manner to that described in relation to the first rear casingelement.

The third element of the rear casing 98 covers the polyphonic speaker27. This element may be only relatively thin and formed from a preciousmaterial such as gold. It will be provided with a suitable aperture 102to channel sound from the polyphonic speaker 27 that may be used inhands free mode and for providing an audible ring tone. In thisembodiment the phone has an aperture in which the polyphonic speaker 27is located to provide for polyphonic sound. This additional speaker 27has not been optimised for use in close proximity to the ear as has thespeaker 18 located beneath the pillow 16. This allows it to be moreeffective as a handsfree speaker and enables a greater range of ringtones to be utilised.

In the embodiment described the front 3 and rear casing elements 96, 97,98 are secured to the side frame 20. A silicon sealant 69 may beextruded around the inside of the back cover 21 to prevent unwantedingress of dirt and fluid.

The skilled man will realise that the number of parts and the manner inwhich they are connected can be changed without departing from theseveral inventive concepts described. For example, in other embodimentsthe casing may be held together using other techniques and in otherways.

As well as obscuring exposed edges, the rails 22, 23 provide additionalelements for customisation as they can be formed from a variety ofdifferent materials, in particular different types of precious metal forexample gold or platinum as discussed previously in relation to thebezel. The material for the entire ‘T’ shaped piece or the extrudedelement could be a precious metal. They also act to protect vulnerableedges of veneered frames from exposure to potentially damaging forces.In doing this unsightly edges are obscured from view. This providesquality and durability in keeping with the overall concept of aretainable casing for a communications device. Regardless of thematerial of the veneer, this is a convenient arrangement for securingall the elements in place for a durable finish.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 b, instead ofproviding rails 22, 23 to protect exposed edges, the adjacent edgesthemselves are turned inward 105, 106 and held in close proximity. Thisarrangement also provides the advantage of protection and keepsunsightly discontinuities from view.

A casing with an optically permeable front face provides newopportunities. In a particular embodiment, described with reference toFIGS. 12 and 3 legends 15 associated with the keys of the key array 6are located on both the front 37 a and rear 37 b surfaces of thePerspex™ layer 37. With communications devices becoming ever moresophisticated, it is common for each key provided to have a number ofdifferent functions. It is useful to be able to label visually thedifferent possible functions associated with a key. For the alphanumeric keys 7 in particular, each key is associated with a single digitand a group of letters or symbols. Ideally these should be displayedclearly.

The skilled man will be aware that the character described above inrelation to specific elements of the device can be mixed and matched tosuit many distinct design options.

Preferably, the key tips are of a thickness that they protrude from thesurface of the second layer 51 of the composite, at least when the keysare in the aforementioned normal state. When the composite issubstantially transparent, this will give the impression of floatingkeys. Furthermore, the key tips should be sufficiently deep to bepartially sunk into the second layer of the composite, and preferablyhave at least two opposing substantially flat sides which correspondwith sides of the second layer to prevent lateral rotation of the keys.A gap of the order of 0.1 mm is achieved in the present device betweenthe keys and second layer of the composite: a gap insignificant to thehuman eye and suitable for assisting in the prevention of lateralrotation of the keys. Lateral rotation is further hindered in thepresent embodiment, by virtue of the provision of mirrored slanting ofthe sides of adjacent keys.

In order to ensure the correct relative spacing of elements of the key,the Perspex™ layer 37, PCB 118, and titanium plate 77 are clampedtogether. In this embodiment, the clamping is provided by the front faceprotectors 63, and by the provision of additional tapped bosses inprojections 68 of the Perspex™ plate and associated fixing means.Consequently, once the keys have been positioned, the Perspex™ layer,PCB and titanium plate can be clamped together using the bosses andfixing means, thereby holding the keys in place and forming a manageablemodule. This module may then be readily installed in the device usingthe front face protectors as described above.

The central V shaped key tips of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1enable the user to determine the central vertical axis of the deviceboth by sight and by touch. This is made even easier by the pillow 16being provided with an apex. Consequently the user can quickly locate adesired central key. The apexes of each central key tip also identifythe mid point along the length of the key tip, the point from which thekey shaft 49 extends. Hence, they facilitate more accurate depression ofthe key. This, in turn, may assist in the prevention of contact withneighbouring key tips or the need to place keys further apart to preventsuch contact.

Likewise, in this embodiment, the combination of adjacent outer key tipsand front face protectors forming a V shape enable the user to determinethe position of the vertical axes to one side of which the outer keyslie. Consequently, the user can quickly locate a desired outer key. Thekey location process is facilitated in this embodiment as the outer keytips extend to the interface between the second layer of the composite51 and the bezel 19.

The front face of the device illustrated in FIG. 1 is protected by thepillow and front face protectors, 63. The front face 3 is slightlyconvex, with the highest points lying along its central longitudinalaxis. Hence, ordinarily, if placed face down, the device would rest onthis axis, resulting in scratches to its surface. Clearly, this is notacceptable, particularly when the second layer of composite is sapphireor the like. The device illustrated in FIG. 1 has been designed to avoidthis problem. The pillow 16 and face protector 63 a prevent the deviceresting on the second layer of composite. The pillow 16 protrudes out ofthe front face of the device, preferably for a distance greater than thedistance that at least the keys 6 protrude out of the front face 3.Also, as mentioned above, in the preferred embodiment the key tipsprotrude slightly from the surface. Hence, the central key tips too mayprotect the second layer of composite from damage. However, preferablythe pillow 16 and chin front face protector 63 a are raised sufficientlyabove the front surface, that the device does not rest on the centralkey tips either, so as to protect them from damage too.

The device is also designed so that the front face is protected if theedge of the face is knocked. As can be seen from the plan view of thedevice, depicted in FIG. 21, the bezel front face protectors 63 bprotrude beyond the surface of the second layer of composite along theinterface with the bezel, thereby protecting the second layer ofcomposite from damage in that region. They also reduce the likelihood ofdamage to the bezel due to knocks. Moreover, they protrude further thanthe adjacent key tips, hence protecting those key tips from damage too.

One further benefit of the front face protectors 63, particularly thebezel is that they are dimensioned so as to prevent the keys from beingaccidentally actuated if, for example, the device was placed face down.That is, the top surface of the front face protector tips should eitherbe at the same level or higher than the top surface of a key tip (e.g.as in the relationship between the protectors 63 b and the adjacentouter key tips) or, if they are at a lower level than the top surface ofa key tip, the distance between the top surface of the protector and keytips must be smaller than the distance the key needs to travel in orderfor the spring plate contacts to contact the PCB contact region foractuation the key.

Aspects of the invention have been discussed with reference to a radiotelephone function. It will be clear to the skilled man that theseaspects apply equally to other portable communications devicessupporting in addition or as an alternative other functions, such as,amongst others electronic diaries, and electronic notepads.

In the future, although the casing will probably be maintained insubstantially the same condition, the engine could be replaced with anengine that perhaps has greater processing power or allows for differentfunctionality, for example improved graphics. To replace the engine willbe a relatively simple manner of removing the existing engine andreplacing it with a new one. the battery and internal casing walls maybe changed at the same time if greater battery volume is then possible.

The present invention includes any novel feature or combination offeatures disclosed herein either explicitly or any generalisationthereof irrespective of whether or not it relates to the claimedinvention or mitigates any or all of the problems addressed.

In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a personskilled in the art that various modifications may be made within thescope of the invention.

1. A device including a casing, a loudspeaker, and a user interface including at least one user input member, wherein the casing comprises an element having a bottom side that is designed to overlie the loudspeaker of the device, the element having apertures for allowing the egress of an audio signal from the loudspeaker, said apertures being designed for placing against a user's ear, wherein a bottom end of the element overlays a top portion of a display region of the device, wherein the bottom end of the element that overlies the top portion of the display is generally V-shaped.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the element is formed of a material that is scratch-resistant.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the element is fixed to a casing element that is designed to overlie the loudspeaker of the device.
 4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the device is a portable communications device.
 5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the device is a telephone.
 6. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the element is fixed to a casing member that is designed to overlie the loudspeaker of the device, said casing member having apertures corresponding to the apertures in the element.
 7. A device including a casing, a loudspeaker, and a user interface including at least one user input member, wherein the casing comprises an element having a bottom side that is designed to overlie the loudspeaker of the device, the element having apertures for allowing the egress of an audio signal from the loudspeaker, said apertures being designed for placing against a user's ear, wherein at least part of the casing is made from a precious material and the element is made from a material that is inherently warmer to the touch than the precious material, wherein a bottom end of the element overlays a top portion of a display region of the device.
 8. A device including a casing, a loudspeaker, and a user interface including at least one user input member, wherein the casing comprises an element having a bottom side that is designed to overlie the loudspeaker of the device, the element having apertures for allowing the egress of an audio signal from the loudspeaker, said apertures being designed for placing against a user's ear, wherein the device has a face that includes both the element and the user interface and the element protrudes out of the face to a greater extent than the user interface protrudes out of the face, wherein a bottom end of the element overlays a top portion of a display region of the device.
 9. A device including a casing, a loudspeaker, and a user interface including at least one user input member, wherein the casing comprises an element having a bottom side that is designed to overlie the loudspeaker of the device, the element having apertures for allowing the egress of an audio signal from the loudspeaker, said apertures being designed for placing against a user's ear, wherein a bottom end of the element overlays a top portion of a display region of the device, wherein ceramic, leather or wood is used to form the element.
 10. A device including a casing, a loudspeaker, and a user interface including at least one user input member, wherein the casing comprises an element having a bottom side that is designed to overlie the loudspeaker of the device, the element having apertures for allowing the egress of an audio signal from the loudspeaker, said apertures being designed for placing against a user's ear, wherein the element is formed of ceramic, wherein a bottom end of the element overlays a top portion of a display region of the device.
 11. A casing for a portable communications device, the casing including an element having a bottom side that is designed to overlie the loudspeaker of the device, the element having apertures for allowing the egress of an audio signal from a loudspeaker of the device, said apertures being designed for placing against a user's ear, wherein the element is formed of ceramic, wherein a bottom end of the element is configured to overlay a top portion of a display region of the device.
 12. A casing for a portable communications device, the casing including an element having a bottom side that is designed to overlie the loudspeaker of the device, the element having apertures for allowing the egress of an audio signal from a loudspeaker of the device, said apertures being designed for placing against a user's ear wherein the casing has a face that includes both the element and the user interface and the element protrudes out of the face to a greater extent than the user interface protrudes out of the face, wherein a bottom end of the element is configured to overlay a top portion of a display region of the device.
 13. A casing for a portable communications device having a loudspeaker and a user interface including a display region, the casing comprising an element having a bottom side that is designed to overlie the loudspeaker of the device, the element having apertures for allowing the egress of an audio signal from the loudspeaker, said apertures being designed for placing against a user's ear, wherein a bottom end of the element overlays a top portion of a display region, wherein the bottom end of the element that overlies the top portion of the display is generally V-shaped. 